The Weekly Challenger
BY GOLIATH J. DAVIS, III, Ph.D.
ST. PETERSBURG — On April 3, the North Shore Elementary School-Based Instructional and Media Review Committee met to review and rule on a complaint filed by parent Emily Conklin, who protested the showing of Disney’s 1998 “Ruby Bridges” film to second-grade scholars, even though she was allowed to opt her child out of the showing. All of the second-grade parents, except two, returned consent approval forms.
The seven-member committee was comprised of teachers, parents, community representatives, and union members. Two of the members were African American. Time was allotted for Mrs. Conklin to address her objection, but she did not appear at the microphone when called. The second-grade team responsible for the lesson and the district’s content specialist were also allotted time.
The presentation by the second-grade team was quite informative and provided a compelling rationale for why the film was selected. The team members worked independently to research their single topic utilizing multiple sources. “Ruby Bridges” was chosen because she was six years old and relatable to second graders. The movie had several teachable points, including perseverance, contributing to a strong community, and utilizing your voice for change.
The district’s content specialist addressed issues related to state standards and curriculum. Her research revealed the lesson and the film aligned with state standards regarding teaching African-American history in three areas: prejudice, vital African-American contributions, and how individual freedoms have been infringed upon by segregation. Ruby’s bravery was also a central teaching point.
Committee members discussed their overall impressions and a host of other issues, including the movie and lesson’s educational value, age appropriateness, and whether or not the film and lesson adversely impacted students within the broader context of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and diversity. Their responses were thoughtful, heartfelt, researched, and personal.
One member consulted American Psychological Association literature and reported that given some preschoolers may have already developed racial beliefs in other settings, the movie and lesson are age appropriate. More importantly, the member stated her review of the movie revealed it did not teach hate. Instead, the film displayed ugliness and intolerance, and what better place to address it than inside a classroom? Read more
